Types Of Hindu Marriages

Types of Hindu Marriages vary in their rites and rituals but possess a common aim of uniting the two individuals. Hindu mythology describes eight different types of Hindu marriages

Types of Hindu Marriages are described in Hindu mythology as eight types. Some of the marriages from among the eight types were practiced in ancient culture according to Hinduism.

Brahma Marriage
Among all the eight types the Brahma form of marriage holds a supreme position and this system of marriage does not involve any system of dowry.

Daiva Marriage
Daiva Marriage, on the other hand is regarded to be inferior to the Brahma marriage since in this system a woman has to look for her groom that in turn is considered a demeaning practice for a woman.

Gandharva Marriage
The Gandharva form of marriage is somewhat similar to the present day love marriage. Those couples, who are not permitted by their families to get united, seek refuge in this form of Hindu marriage.
Asura Marriage
Asura Marriage takes place when an unsuitable bridegroom approaches the family of the bride and offers as high price as he is able to afford to get married to the girl.

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Hindu Wedding Rituals, Indian Weddings

Hindu Wedding Rituals are many in number and involve not only the bride and groom but family members and even the community.

Hinduism believes that there are four stages of life and married life of Grihastha is the second stage. It is the time of life when two individuals come together and learn the actual values of life through the institution of marriage.

Hindu Pre-Wedding Rituals
One of the earliest rituals is the Misri or ‘Ring Ceremony’. It is a pre-wedding ceremony and involves oral agreement and ‘Lagna Patra’ or written declaration. It proceeds with the ‘Mehendi Ceremony’ and ‘Sangeet Ceremony’.Each family member, who belong to the bride's relations adorn the groom's relatives with perfume, costumes and flowers. The ‘Nav-Graha Puja’ (Worship to the Nine Planets) is performed to ask for blessings from the Gods associated with the nine planets.

Hindu Wedding Rituals
The actual marriage ceremony

begins with the ritual of the ‘Vara Satkaarah’ in which the bridegroom and his friends and relatives are welcomed and received at the entrance of the hall where the wedding is to be conducted. The officiating priest chants mantras and the bride's mother blesses the groom

The most important among the various ceremonies is the ‘Saptapadi’. After the tying of the Mangalsutra, the Saptapadi is symbolised by the marriage knot, tying one end of the groom's scarf with the bride's dress.

The last process in the Hindu wedding rituals includes the ‘Aashirvad’ or benediction by the elders followed by the Vidai Ceremony
Hindu Post Wedding RitualAn integral part of every Indian wedding ceremony is the post wedding rituals. One of the more important post Indian wedding rituals is the ‘Griha Pravesh’.

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Punjabi Wedding

The Punjabi weddings are best known for the zest, vivacity and of course, the bhangra. Punjabi Wedding Ceremony is a very lively yet a simple function The wedding ceremony consists of many rituals, which have a distinctive significance and charisma.
Pre Wedding Rituals
Roka

Roka ceremony is performed on a mutually convenient chosen date as 'shubh muhurat'. Family members and close friends for basically exchanging gifts and cash attend this function
 
Sagai

The wedding celebrations begin with the tikka ceremony, held a week to ten days before the wedding in which the family of the girl visits that of the boy's carrying beautifully wrapped gifts and the tikka material.

Sangeet

Before the wedding day after Sagan on every night till the wedding day, the relatives and friends get together for singing sessions both at the boy's as well as the girl's house. One day is fixed for special sangeet session, which is attended and celebrated by both the sides together.
Wedding ceremony

The "chuda" ceremony begins with a "havan" or "puja". The oldest members of the family performing this ceremony keep a fast till chuda. The chuda, i.e., the set of cream and red ivory bangles, is not shown to the girl just before the ceremony. A paste of turmeric powder and mustard oil is applied to the bride's body and then the bride is given a bath with holy water. The bride then wears her bridal attire, which as per tradition given by the maternal uncle.

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